The Coinage of the Gupta Empire and its Imitations c14.s1.13

c14.s1.13

Four varieties of this class may be distinguished. Coins of variety A are thin and large. Coins of variety B are slightly thicker and smaller and use rounded forms of the letters *ma* and *va*. Variety C, like variety B, is smaller in size than variety A, but it does not use the rounded forms of *ma* and *va*, as does the variety B. On two coins of this variety (B.M.C., G.D., Nos. 304-5) the star is stated to be below Garuḍa; these coins, however, are not illustrated in that Catalogue. Variety D gives the year of issue behind the head, where we have the word *varsha* followed by a numeral which is taken to be 100. This symbol, however, is not clear. The legend on this variety has a genitive ending. Coins of varieties A and B are common; variety C is known from only three coins, and variety D from a single specimen.